NCJ Number
202242
Date Published
November 2002
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This report provides summary information of a statewide analysis of juvenile justice processes and treatment programs in New Mexico from 2001 to 2002.
Abstract
To provide information for the New Mexico Legislature, policymakers, and the public, this report, organized by the 13 judicial districts, is a summary of a statewide analysis of juvenile justice processes and treatment programs in New Mexico. The information was collected between October 2001 and November 2002. Interviews with more than 150 respondents were conducted with juvenile judges, and representatives from the Children's Court Attorney's office, the Public Defender's office, the Juvenile Probation/Parole office, local detention facilities, and treatment providers serving juveniles. Throughout the State of New Mexico there are 32 Juvenile Probation/Parole offices. Even though there are statewide protocols, variations and available programming differ. Selected findings on referrals include: (1) since 1997, referrals to the Juvenile Probation/Parole office decreased from 38,002 to 27,785 in 2002, a 26.9 percent reduction; (2) males (67 percent) comprise the majority of referrals and females 31.5 percent; and (3) White referrals made up 81.5 percent of the referrals in 2002. Regarding case dispositions, over 6,300 youth were under informal or formal supervision by the end of 2002, with about 3,000 of those under formal supervision with a Consent Decree or a 1- or 2-year probation judgment. Specific issues related to treatment were also addressed in the report that included, but were not limited to: enhanced supervision, sex offender treatment, clinical assessment unit, crisis placement, juvenile correctional facilities, mental health services, juvenile drug courts, and juvenile community corrections. The report attempts to determine how existing juvenile treatment needs are determined and met, as well as determine gaps in treatment services available to juvenile justice agencies.